Tag Archives: Elvis Presley

What happens when you stick Elvis Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough into a car with Twilight star Robert Pattinson? A whole lot of dating rumors and an obvious immersion of a type.

When the two were spotted this past weekend driving back to his L.A. mansion (afternoon rendezvous?), it became clear that Pattinson is moving on to Kristen Stewart: Part 2. The same-shaped face, dainty features, understated beauty, and tossed-to-the-side tresses make this romance the sequel every Twilight fan is going to hate.

Elvis Presley fans are a passionate bunch. They will defend the work of their hero, no matter how many people from whose music he appropriated. Sometimes they will perform as him or pay way too much for parking to visit his national-landmark Memphis home.

And there are plenty of reasons why the work of the King continues to be so beloved. It’s fun, it’s timeless, it hearkens back to a simpler time in American history. And for those who never tire of Elvis nostalgia, or the escapist, goofy fun of his many films, Encore is showing a good-sized chunk of his classic films throughout the month of May, sans commercials. So if you’re part of the oddly specific but probably bigger than we think niche market of Elvis fans with Encore, every night at 8 until the 31st, you can rejoice in Girl Happy, Viva Las Vegas or G.I. Blues.

This upcoming weekend has a pretty solid bill—Blue Hawaii on Friday; Jailhouse Rock on Saturday, King Creole on Sunday. But if you have plans this weekend, there will be plenty of other opportunities to practice your hip-swiveling and perfect that upper-lip sneer thing he used to do.

Christmas songs are the epitome of pop culture tradition. Some people don’t believe it’s time to get in the spirit of the holiday until they hear Wham’s “Last Christmas” piping out of a J. Crew speaker. And sprouting up within the tradition of “merry” Christmas songs is a tradition of sad-as-Hell holiday songs, which range here from 1930’s murder ballads to Low’s “Taking Down the Christmas Tree.” All prove that Charlie Brown isn’t the only one thinking “there must be something wrong with me… Christmas has come, but I’m not happy.”

Today in Ratings Ploys That Are Lacking In Good Taste: Simon Cowell’s singing competition show X Factor is supposedly considering having contestants "duet" with holograms of deceased stars like Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse and Elvis Presley, NME reported. To which I say "oof."

Hologram performers became an official "thing" back in April when Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre performed alongside a hologram of rapper Tupac Shakur at Coachella. Celine Dion has also performed with holograms of Stevie Wonder and Elvis, the latter on American Idol back in 2009.

But she is Celine Fucking Dion. It’s a bit different to resurrect the likeness of a deceased star to "perform" alongside some warbling 19-year-old who works at Coldstone Creamery. Somehow I don’t see Michael Jackson’s family signing onto that publicity stunt.

It’s a particularly crappy day in New York with what feels like a unending downpour already ruining our happy hour plans. With our socks and pants still soaked from running the four blocks from the subway to our office, it’s hard to forget the terrible weather outside as we sit in the toasty BlackBook offices. Never fear! We shall order our lunches to be delivered (and, yes, we will give generous tips), and we’ll spend the day listening to our favorite rainy-day songs. Come on, gang! Don’t let the miserable weather outside ruin your day!

Yesterday I made my way to Memphis, Tennessee to fulfill a bucket list item: visiting Elvis Presley’s storied estate, Graceland. While the 13.8-acre property, stuffed with memorabilia and original furniture from the Presley days, was a thrill to see in itself, getting up close and personal with the King’s legendary fashion archive (especially the bedazzled cape above) was by far the highlight of my trip. His signature show costumes were displayed inside the mansion, but after the tour this sartorial nerd bee-lined to the nearby Elvis Presley: Fashion King exhibit to get an in-depth look at Presley’s evolving fashion choices.

Presley’s multicolored Native American-inspired fringe cape.

The exhibit is across the street from Graceland and opened on March 1 of this year in honor of Presley’s 75th birthday. It showcases both performance and casual garb that’s had a direct influence on today’s fashion, and proves that Presley was decades ahead of his time in terms of style. Just as his early music was a combination of both rhythm & blues and country music, in the 1950’s his style reflected both cultures. He was known for purchasing suits from primarily African-American boutiques in Memphis, but added his own rock-rebel flair to them, like a popped collar. He also started having his shirts custom made to reflect his love of prints – especially paisley.

Handmade shirts by Lanksy Brothers on Beale Street in Memphis. Presley requested that elastic was added to the wrists and elbows to add volume.

How sweet are these blue buckle ankle boots?

While the 1950’s were all about perfecting his rock ‘n’ roll edge, by the 1960’s Presley had developed a more sophisticated style that reflected his budding career as a Hollywood star. He enlisted Frank Sinatra’s tailor, Sy Devore, to help sharpen his new suave style. But by the 1970’s, the musician’s showy fashion sense returned, gradually becoming more eccentric and leading to his new-found love for statement accessories like bold scarves and blinged-out rings.

A portion of Presley’s enviable jewelry collection, including his famous 11.5 carat solitaire ring with the T.C.B. (Taking Care of Business) emblem surrounded by lightning bolts.

A closer look at the King’s designer clothing roster, which includes pieces from Bally, Bill Blass, and Christian Dior.